Monday, October 26, 2009

Mad Men Season 3 - The Hobo and the Gypsy



Synopsis
Betty shows Don the contents of his "Secret Drawer" and asks questions. After a stiff drink, Don provides the answers, and tells the truth, mostly. At the office, Roger meets an old flame but remains true to his child bride, and then helps Joan out with a new job. Finally, Dr. Butterfingers joins the army and the schoolteacher cries when Don ends their affair.


The Good
  • So, that's why Betty didn't get a locksmith
  • So, that's why Don put all his secret papers in desk drawer, thanks writers.
  • Hamm acts up a storm
  • Roger and Joan's telephone call
  • January acts up a storm
  • Excellent Don-Betty confrontation - Betty doesn't give him any room to run
  • Roger gets more than a couple one-liners
  • Joan hits her husband with a vase
  • "Casablanca, that woman got on a plane with a man who was going to end World War II, not run her father's dog food company."
  • Hendricks looked really hot this episode
  • Don leaving the schoolteacher in the caddy - then forgetting her
The Bad
  • Betty takes the baby trick or treating - give me a break. They're wealthy by the standards of 1962. they couldn't get Carla to stay late?
Other Matters
The lawyer seem mistaken in so many ways. First, it'd be easy for Betty to prove adultery, secondly in the 60s the wife always got the kids, third, Betty would have gotten a good alimony settlement. Why the writers had the lawyer lie is puzzling.

Both Roger and his old girlfriend need to watch Casablanca again - Ingrid didn't get on a plane with anyone.

Overall Rating

Most excellent. The best episode this far and will probably will earn Hamm an Emmy nomination. The show is always at its best when it focuses in on Don. Where does the show go from here? I have no idea - and that's great. **** stars.

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9 comments:

Trooper York said...

What the lawyer was doing was lying to her. In what he thought was her own best interest. He spun a story so she wouldn't try to get a divorce. Remember this was the early sixties. There were no feminist lawyers. Men had all the power and they kind of stuck together. The lawyer just wanted to condescend to her and pat her on the head and tell her to suck it up and deal with her husband by being a doormat

Trooper York said...

You know the good old days.

Trooper York said...

I tell you that Joan Holloway is a tasty piece of pastry.

Trooper York said...

Roger wouldn't have turned her down like he did his old friend.

Trooper York said...

Don is a big old wimp. I think they weren't true to the character and his upbringing. I think he would have been considerably more violent and controlling. But they have to make him the good guy.

Trooper York said...

He needs to dump the ice queen though. How could anyone live with someone like that. I would tear my hair out by the roots.

Trooper York said...

Betsy has the sense of humor of a crutch. Her daughter can't wait to leave her in the old folks home.

rcocean said...

Thanks for the posts. Gotta agree on Don being out of character. The *real* Don would have either kept the stuff in a safe deposit box, or he would have planned ahead, known Betty would see it and had an explanation planned out. Maybe even used the discovery by Betty as a chance to offer her a divorce, since he half wants his freedom.

Being surprised and then crying seems odd for such a smart man who leaves the bad stuff behind him.

But I liked it anyway.

rcocean said...

You say "ice queen" - but maybe that doesn't hold for the bedroom. Possible explanation.